Healthy hair doesn’t stop at quality products. The styling tools we use can also make or break (excuse the pun) our hair health. We’re all product junkies, but when it comes to our tools we may overlook some habits that could be damaging out hair. There are some styling tips for healthy hair that you can implement in your routine to reduce damage.
DryingUsing a t-shirt instead of a towel to dry hair is a well known styling technique among curly girls; but even those with straight, wavy, or fine hair can benefit from t-shirt drying. Hair is at it’s most fragile when wet, so you want to handle with care. Towel fibers are thick, and pull apart your hair’s strands resulting in frizz. They also absorb moisture too quickly. T-shirts, on the other hand, have finer fibers and aren’t as abrasive as towels. They slowly soak up moisture, and won’t pull apart the strands of your hair; which allows them to dry in thicker strands rather than separate, stringy strands. This will give your hair a fuller look, and if you have waves or curls, they will stay together in thicker chunks, frizz free!
BrushingTry not to brush your hair when it’s wet. Your hair is most vulnerable when wet because the hair fibers stretch and become weaker when they fill with water. If you have to detangle, use a wide tooth comb. Using the correct brush for your hair type is essential to healthy hair. Different brushes are ideal for different styles and textures. It’s also important to keep brushes clean; not just from stray hairs, but oil and dust can also build up on brushes which will transfer to your hair. You can wash most brushes by soaking them in warm soapy water with a dab of shampoo in it.
StylingWe all know heat impacts hair, but let’s face it: we can’t live without it. If you can’t cut out heat styling tools altogether, be sure you’re using them in a way that minimizes damage. Different hair types will respond in different ways to temperature so when using a curling or straightening iron, so test out the heat on your hair. Start at the lowest heat setting, then work your way up until you can get the desired result. This way, you know you’re using the lowest possible setting for your hair.
As we’ve mentioned, hair is especially vulnerable when wet, so be sure to use the proper heat setting on your hair dryer as well. High settings are better for thick, coarse hair while the lower settings are best for fine, thin, or fragile hair. A higher watt dryer will allow you to get stronger power and cut down your drying time without having to turn up the heat. Finish blow drying with the cool setting once your hair is about 80% dry. The cool setting will seal your hair cuticles and set the style.
No matter how much we abuse our hair, there are always steps we can take to prevent damage, or to repair. Using heat protecting products and repairing masks are a great way to give our hair some extra protection and love.
Healthy hair doesn’t stop at quality products. The styling tools we use can also make or break (excuse the pun) our hair health. We’re all product junkies, but when it comes to our tools we may overlook some habits that could be damaging out hair. There are some styling tips for healthy hair that you can implement in your routine to reduce damage.
Drying
Using a t-shirt instead of a towel to dry hair is a well known styling technique among curly girls; but even those with straight, wavy, or fine hair can benefit from t-shirt drying. Hair is at it’s most fragile when wet, so you want to handle with care. Towel fibers are thick, and pull apart your hair’s strands resulting in frizz. They also absorb moisture too quickly. T-shirts, on the other hand, have finer fibers and aren’t as abrasive as towels. They slowly soak up moisture, and won’t pull apart the strands of your hair; which allows them to dry in thicker strands rather than separate, stringy strands. This will give your hair a fuller look, and if you have waves or curls, they will stay together in thicker chunks, frizz free!
Brushing
Try not to brush your hair when it’s wet. Your hair is most vulnerable when wet because the hair fibers stretch and become weaker when they fill with water. If you have to detangle, use a wide tooth comb. Using the correct brush for your hair type is essential to healthy hair. Different brushes are ideal for different styles and textures. It’s also important to keep brushes clean; not just from stray hairs, but oil and dust can also build up on brushes which will transfer to your hair. You can wash most brushes by soaking them in warm soapy water with a dab of shampoo in it.
Styling
We all know heat impacts hair, but let’s face it: we can’t live without it. If you can’t cut out heat styling tools altogether, be sure you’re using them in a way that minimizes damage. Different hair types will respond in different ways to temperature so when using a curling or straightening iron, so test out the heat on your hair. Start at the lowest heat setting, then work your way up until you can get the desired result. This way, you know you’re using the lowest possible setting for your hair.
As we’ve mentioned, hair is especially vulnerable when wet, so be sure to use the proper heat setting on your hair dryer as well. High settings are better for thick, coarse hair while the lower settings are best for fine, thin, or fragile hair. A higher watt dryer will allow you to get stronger power and cut down your drying time without having to turn up the heat. Finish blow drying with the cool setting once your hair is about 80% dry. The cool setting will seal your hair cuticles and set the style.
No matter how much we abuse our hair, there are always steps we can take to prevent damage, or to repair. Using heat protecting products and repairing masks are a great way to give our hair some extra protection and love.